Mike Tymn

hirunning on March 11, 2022

Mike Tymn is a prominent figure in Hawaii’s running history for his outstanding race performances throughout his running career, especially as a masters runner over the age of 40 and for his promotion of the sport through his writing.

A runner since 1954, Mike began competing in Hawaii right after moving here from Guam in 1971.  At 42, Mike was the overall winner of the 1979 Maui Marathon with a time of 2:28:43, and was twice named Hawaii’s “Runner of the Year” by the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club (MPRRC).

Notable achievements:

  • Won four national masters championships from 10K to the marathon and broke national age records at 10K, 15K, 20K and the One-Hour Run
  • Twice overall winner of the Kam Day Kukini (1977-78), Hawaii’s most popular non-marathon
  • Winner of the first Norman K. Tamanaha 15K and age-group recordholder in the 40-44, 45-49, and 50-54 divisions; still holds 40-over record at 49:43, set at age 45
  • Won the 30-39 division in the 1975 Honolulu Marathon (2:34), second in the 30-39 division in 1976 (2:32) and first in the 40-49 division in 1977 (2:32)
  • Represented MPRRC in the 1977 National Masters Team Championship, which was part of the New York City Marathon, with Jim Gallup and Johnny Faerber, winning the national team championship
  • Clocked 2:29:52 in leading the Hawaii team, including Gordon Dugan and Jim Gallup, to a second-place finish in the 1978 National Masters Marathon Championship in Anaheim, California.
  • Won the One-Hour Run at UH in 1979 with 11 miles, 542 yards, which was an American age record
  • Sponsored by Nike in 1978-81, won 40-49 division of the 1979 Cascade Run-Off 15K in Portland (49:24)
  • Won the 1980 Nike National 10K masters championship in San Diego, leading the Hawaii team, including Johnny Faerber and Jim Gallup, to a second-place team finish
  • Broke the then-existing national 10K 40-over road record with a 31:38 in Boston, Mass.
  • Won Road Runners Club of America national championship 10K in the 45-49 division in Portland, Maine in 1985
  • Coached the Hawaii state team in the international Ekiden competition in New York City in 1988 and 1989

Mike promoted an appreciation for long-distance running through his work as a reporter. He covered the running scene for the Honolulu Advertiser from 1978 to 2002 and contributed many articles to national publications, including Runner’s World, Running Times, and National Masters News. In his long career, he contributed over 1,600 articles in approximately 40 newspapers, magazines, journals, and books, and interviewed and wrote about more than 40 Olympians. Pictured below is Mike’s highly regarded book, Running on Third Wind (2009).

Mike is married to the former Gina Bernard of Kaneohe, Hawaii and has two daughters, both registered nurses, and four grandchildren, and lives in Kailua, Oahu.